After a long year living in isolation, picking up our normal work routines again can leave us feeling stressed.
These 4 mindfulness exercises can be practised anywhere at anytime, helping us create awareness and presence.
Wim Hof Method: Deep Dive into Consciousness
Perhaps you have already heard of the Iceman from Limburg. He is not only famous for breaking several world records, such as longest swim under ice, but also for inventing a unique breathing technique. One that reminds us what it feels to feel empowered and reconnected with nature. Living in modern civilization, we lose touch with our natural strength and resistance. Breathing, cold exposure, and commitment (the three pillars of The Method) allow us to master the capabilities of our bodies!
5 Travel Destinations You Can Reach By Train
Ever since the harmful impact of carbon emissions has been made official, many of us have chosen to keep plane travel at a bare minimum. Luckily, there are so many other forms of transport available in these times. Most trips may take a bit longer, however they guarantee a fantastic adventure in itself!
May Full Blood Moon in Sagittarius: A Challenging Time Ahead
On Wednesday the 26th of May, the Sagittarius Full Moon will appear at 13:13 in Amsterdam. This specific full moon is also a Supermoon, which means that the moon is less than 360,000 kilometers from the center of Earth - making it appear larger. This moon, therefore, has a bigger influence on us these next few weeks.
Full Moon Meaning
A Full Moon occurs when the moon is opposite the sun. These opposing forces can influence your life and lead to internal tensions such as between what you want and what your soul actually needs.
During the time of a Full Moon, our emotions and intuition reach their peak. We will be likely to feel more emotional and our intimate relationships come more into the center of our attention. This increased emotional strength can help us deal with challenges in our personal life or in relationships.
Super Blood Moon
Not only will this moon appear bigger due to being closer to the Earth’s surface - but it will also bear an interesting color. Thanks to the rays of the setting sun hitting the moon’s surface, it will appear to turn into a red or ruddy-brown tinge. This is why it carries the name of Blood Moon. It’s going to be a visually stunning sight to see at least! So make sure to have a look at the moon whenever the clouds disappear.
What to Expect?
MOON SQUARE JUPITER: BEWARE OF GREED
This total lunar eclipse will be a challenging one for sure. This is also due to some stars who carry Mars and Saturn traits. You can expect some of the more negative aspects of Jupiter to come out these next few days. They could include feelings of greediness, overconfidence, and over-optimism. This can also affect your relationships, as your increased greed could result in wandering eyes. If you are not in a relationship, keep checking if you are not lowering your standards or missing red flags.
To make sure you don’t fall into excess, you have to find something to do to counter those negative aspects of Jupiter. One way to do so is by doing something for others. Whether it’s putting in time for a charity, or helping out a friend for free - make sure to do something fulfilling not only for yourself but also for others.
MERCURY SQUARE NEPTUNE: DECEPTION
We’re all a bit prone to misunderstanding and miscommunication thanks to the influence of Mercury. You could be a bit more confused or insecure than usual - which makes it easier for others to deceive you. For your work life, we recommend you to listen extra carefully when presented with a business opportunity. Make sure to not leave any space for miscommunications and create flawless terms and conditions with others. Also you yourself should be wary of deceiving others. Maybe you think it’s a little white lie that can’t hurt anyone, but this act of insincerity can blow up in your face later. Save yourself the scandal and try to be as honest as you can.
VENUS SQUARE NEPTUNE: TENDERNESS
Yes, something good will also happen to us this Full Moon… And it comes in the shape of Venus. Soft feelings such as tenderness may come to you more often - which is wonderful. The only thing to be cautious of is not to create over-idealized images of others and situations in your head. Remember, try not to be taken advantage of and stay realistic. It is beautiful to trust people, but make sure not to trust blindly.
If you’re feeling a bit low n the self-esteem department, you might think others are looking down on you or talking about you behind your back. Don’t worry about that though - these impressions are often distorted by your mind and do not match what’s really happening.
SATURN SQUARE URANUS: RESTRICTIONS
Uranus brings us restrictive aspects, unfortunately. What could happen, is that things change for you - but not in the way you want them to. It could be a bit frustrating if you really want to pursue something, and you get restricted by things out of your control. Try to stay open-minded to avoid tension and frustration. Who knows? Perhaps the unexpected might actually help you in ways we don’t know yet!
FIXED STAR ACRAB: RESEARCH
Star Acrab is not the friendliest star in the universe - not by miles. It causes malevolence, repulsiveness, mercilessness, and even contagious diseases on planet Earth. Even though Acrab also influences us to dive into research, it is also a bad omen for those who seek material wealth. Be prepared for difficulties coming your way, and try to focus on the positive influence of Acrab. This is a great time to finish writing up your thesis or conducting research - so perhaps challenging your mental capacity could be a great way to save yourself from making missteps.
In Summary
People without morals are going to have a great couple of weeks. But for the majority of us (with a moral compass), they are going to be quite challenging. Be wary of falling into traps of people with malicious intentions, such as loan sharks, propagandists, and criminals. They prey on vulnerable people who feel weak and insecure so make sure not to make drastic decisions when you’re feeling a bit low.
There’s a lot of treachery and deception around us for a while, people can be more cruel and spiteful than usual. It’s definitely going to be a challenging time that requires a lot of patience to get through it okay. Especially after a long pandemic, losing your spirit and mental resilience could something very dangerous.
Here are some tips from us to help you mentally prepare and get through this Full Moon:
Meditate daily. Even if you only take 5 minutes before going to bed to sit down and close your eyes. That’s enough for your mind and body to rest and recover after a long day of impressions. So sit down, turn on soft music and close your eyes. Focus on your breath - feel how the air passes from your lungs into your abdomen and back out through your mouth again. Notice how your belly rises and inflates. Good luck!
Get outside the house. We’ve been stuck inside for so long, but we’re not robots. We are animals who need nature. Take short breaks outside without distractions. Maybe bring your coffee outside and walk around for 5 minutes if you feel overwhelmed. Don’t bring your phone with you and take in your scenery. Check out this article on tips for a meditation walk
Meet your loved ones. Do. Not. Isolate. Yourself. With COVID restrictions being lifted little by little, we have more freedom to go out and about. Make use of them and meet your friends again. Grab lunch together, meet for drinks and catch up. It’s only healthy to stay in touch with your closest friends and they can help carry burdens you’re having.
Mindfulness exercises. They can truly help you see the positive in darker times. See this article for more tips to get started.
Breathing tips. By breathing correctly, you can trick your brain into feeling calm. If you’re feeling tense or frustrated - breathwork exercises can help you calm down. Check out our IGTV for free exercises that can help you out.
Pick up a routine. Try to start your day 1 hour earlier than usual to get some more time for you in the mornings. Maybe you can use this hour for a yoga practice or nice stretch. If you’re feeling a bit done with practicing yoga at home, you’re always welcome to book a physical mat during our live-streamed classes. You can do your self-practice at our studio again!
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Ayurvedic Spring: Listen To The Doshas for a Beautiful Season
The science of Ayurveda is great and ancient, although it is not commonly known amongst most people. In short, Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system that originated in India. This type of traditional medicine aims to holistically treat and heal not only the body but also the mind and spirit. This is can be achieved by changing your lifestyle - including your diet, the way to exercise, meditate and breathe.
Walking Meditation through Amsterdam East
Raise a toast to Ostara
The arrival of spring has been celebrated as long as humanity exists. The symbol of rebirth and fertility, spring is the messenger of hope and new beginnings. The ancient Egyptians celebrated the Festival of Isis during this period and the return of life to the world. The date of the festivity was marked by the rising of the Nile, when supposedly Isis mourned over the death of her lover and shed tears into the water.
7x Ways To Make Cleaning Enjoyable
Can you also not wait for Spring to begin? The first warm days and rays of sun already greeted us the past few days. After some turbulent times when not only the cold weather forced us to stay inside, we are grateful for the first signs of spring. But this year things are a bit different. On your first flower-filled spring walk you might find just as many disposed facemasks as flowers in the flowerbeds. The corona measures have created a new breed of pollution.
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Mind Full or Mindful? Teaching Mindfulness to Kids at School
Scientific literature agrees that our mental health and well-being are profoundly shaped by the way we deal with our attention. Attention is like a muscle that can be trained, and mindfulness does precisely that! It trains our attention, helps to focus on our senses and deal with feelings such as fear and stress. Countless firms such as Google, Apple, IBM, and eBay have recognized the value of mindfulness training and even offer certified courses to their employees. The sooner we start practicing, the better! So why not practice it at schools?
